San Francisco Small Business Week 2014

In this informative San Francisco Small Business Week presentation, you will hear directly from the San Francisco Office of Small Business on rules, regulations, and important considerations for starting a business in San Francisco. Learn how to  register your business, file a fictitious business name, and obtain other permits and licenses.  You will also receive information on city programs and resources, including small business loans, tax credits and incentives, and technical assistance providers.

Who's Your Jenny? How to identify your target market.

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM 

Identifying your ideal target market may be the most vital task for every small business owner, because it enables you to craft a precise marketing plan that gets results. However, new business owners are often afraid to eliminate anyone as a potential target.  Using interactive exercises and examples like Old Navy's fictional, typical customer, “Jenny,” Ken Stram and Kristy Lin Billuni will teach small business owners how to paint a clear and specific picture of their ideal customer.  Arriving at a clearly defined target audience will help you: choose the most appropriate messages, tactics, and brand images; make decisions about how to spend your limited marketing budget; and

grow the business of your dreams. This lively workshop will include exercises and group activities, and helpful handouts and worksheets will be provided.

In this informative San Francisco Small Business Week presentation, a panel of experts representing SBA, a microlender, an SBA Community Advantage lender, a bank or credit union, and an alternative lender, will discuss financing options, what lenders are looking for, credit requirements, and the importance of a relationship with a financial institution.  Eligibility guidelines and loan application procedures will also be covered. 

Who doesn’t love the idea of being their own boss, controlling their own destiny or acquiring another semi-absentee business?  But how can we meet our goals and maximize our chances of success?  IT’s all about discovery.  In this informative San Francisco Small Business Week presentation, you will become educated and enlightened on the numerous options available in the franchise world.  Why now is a great time to consider franchise ownership; What is a full format franchise?; Franchise industry overview;  The pros and cons;  The economic outlook for 2014;  Which industries are likely to be more successful and exciting new categories;  How much they cost and financing options;  The four financial must have’s for your next business;  Presenter:  Gordon Dupries, SCORE member and president of Frannet San Francisco.

12 BIG Mistakes Small Employers Make

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM 

This workshop covers the highlights of common mistakes small employers make which can get them in hot water with either the state or expose them to expensive litigation.  Topics to be covered include employee misclassification, wage and hour law, employee handbooks, injury illness prevention plans, vacation policies, reasonable accommodation, leaves of absence, San Francisco’s new Family Friendly ordinance, workers’ compensation and much more.

This workshop will provide the nuts and bolts of how to start a mobile food business in San Francisco. Whether you want to operate a pushcart or mobile truck, you will learn from industry experts what you need to know (permits and licenses, food preparation, what to consider when purchasing a pushcart or truck, and the capital needed to start your mobile food business). Plus, learn about other resources that are available to run your operation.

Making food is one thing, making a living is entirely different. In this brief workshop, La Cocina, the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the FDA San Francisco District Office will review the fundamental considerations that any food entrepreneur should consider before launching this next phase of their life.La Cocina will review business planning resources, available kitchen spaces, techniques for assessing the marketplace and referrals to support organizations.  The San Francisco Department of Public Health will address the California Homemade Food Act (AB1616), also known as the Cottage Food Act, allowing small food businesses that produce "low-risk foods" (such as bake goods, candies, jam/jellies, desserts, and nuts) to operate out of a private home with limited regulatory oversight, as long as certain criteria are met.  The SFDPH will address the law, permitting process, who's qualified, and provide examples of a good Cottage Food Operations.The FDA San Francisco District Office will focus on getting your product ready for the market. If you sell across state lines or on the Internet, you must comply with federal regulations. Learn about registration; the small business exemption; where to find the food labeling regulations and a nutrient database; and how to properly label your product (ingredients, allergens and the nutrition facts statement).

Creating and Using Your “Elevator Pitch”

2:30 PM – 4:30 PM 

All entrepreneurs need to have a clear and engaging elevator pitch.  Volunteer Instructor, Julie Bennett, JB Consulting, will teach you how to have people listen to you, understand you and be compelled to help you or seek assistance from your business.  Learn the how's, why's and word choice to include in your pitch and most importantly, practice saying it. In this interactive class, attendees will stand up and read the elevator pitch written, try to memorize it and then they ultimately work towards delivering it with confidence.

Hospitality: A Business Philosophy

2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Volunteer instructor, Timothy M. Felkner - www.vigilantehospitality.com, will teach you how to incorporate hospitality into every aspect of your business.  You will learn to be a stronger leader, ways to motivate your employees, and how to improve your guest experience by implementing a business philosophy of hospitality.  Ultimately, these tools will lead to higher sales, better staff retention, increased customer loyalty, and more.

A lot of people come up with business ideas that excite them. They rush into production and find out, too late, that the idea that excited them has not excited customers. A lot of people skip the market research step and go directly into business. The results are often tragic. In this informative San Francisco Small Business Week presentation, we will discuss exactly how to research the market for your business idea, whether you're planning a service, a retail business, or wholesaling a product. We will also tell you how to think about how much in sales you need in order to become profitable. Additionally, we will talk about:  The best kind of corporation to form for your particular situation; Where to go to raise money; Elements of a business plan; How to market your business.  This lecture will be very, very specific in detail. We will not speak in generalities.  Bring a pen with a lot of ink.  Presented by San Francisco SCORE  Mentor Steve Gordon.